Armed robbers on Monday night raided Union and Zenith Bank branches in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State forcing a closure of banks in the area on Tuesday.
The robbers reportedly broke into the Union Bank branch along the Warrake Road with the aid of dynamite.
The robbers, who were said to have come in two groups, attacked the banks simultaneously after blocking both the entrance and exit points of the Warrake Road.
They were said to have fired into the air several times to scare residents while they operated.
No death or injury was however recorded during the operation that lasted for over one hour.
An employee of Union Bank, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said, “We cannot really tell you anything for now until we carry out some verification. All we can tell you for now is that nobody died or got injured in the attack.”
Residents of the area complained that the police were late in responding to a distress call.
The Divisional Police Officer, Auchi Police Station, Mr. Ahmed Umaru however said his men responded swiftly and succeeds in “chasing away” the robbers from Zenith bank.
He said, “Unknown to us, while we engaged the robbers at Zenith Bank, that other group were at the same time robbing Union Bank, which is close by.”
Bank officials in the area said the banks would remain closed until after the meeting of Auchi branch of the Bankers’ Forum.
The forum’s branch chairman, Bash Sanusi, who refused to comment on the robbery said, “We will make our position known after our meeting later in the day, but for now, all banks in the area remain closed.”
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